Weekend Birder

Bird questions can get wonderfully out of hand. For the season four finale, Sean Dooley and Jonah Lafferty answer listener questions about ravens, dinosaurs, car park birds, migration, field guides and what birds can tell us about a changing world. Many thanks to Weekend Birder listeners for submitting your questions - Abby P, Brooke Y, Clare Presser, Dani K, Hugh Possingham, John T, Kelly W,...

Honeyeaters don’t just sing at dawn - they listen. In our 150th episode, Andrew Skeoch returns to share what he’s learnt about honeyeater songs, and how they reveal something deeper about birds, place and belonging. Birds featured: New Holland Honeyeater, Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater, Yellow-tufted Honeyeater, White-eared Honeyeater Episode illustration: White-eared Honeyeater 🎧 Show notes and transc...

Rarity can make a bird feel precious, but it can also change how we see everything else. Author and science journalist Justine Hausheer shares her thinking about common birds, endangered species and her book The Vanishing Wild. Birds featured: Australasian Bittern, Golden-shouldered Parrot, Rainbow Lorikeet, Regent Honeyeater Episode illustration: Regent Honeyeater 🎧 Show notes and transcript - h...

At this school, it’s completely normal to stop class for a bird. Catherine Shaw shares how The Nature School helps young connect with the world around them. Birds featured: Bar-tailed Godwit, Brolga, Buff-breasted Paradise-Kingfisher, Glossy Black-Cockatoo, Golden Whistler, Lewin’s Honeyeater, Regent Honeyeater, Square-tailed Kite Episode illustration: Golden Whistler (male) 🎧 Show notes and tran...

At first, it just feels like a quiet hobby - then you realise how many people love it too. Natalie Kyriacou shares her insights into human relationships with nature and her new book Nature’s Last Dance. Birds featured: Kākāpō Episode illustration: Kākāpō 🎧 Show notes and transcript - https://weekendbirder.com/podcast/ 🐦‍⬛ Instagram - https://instagram.com/weekend.birder 🦆 Facebook - https://fa...

You can learn a lot about a place by noticing which birds are still there. Kai Hill-Crofts shares stories of birds, ecology and growing up on Country. Birds featured: Eastern Osprey, Superb Fairywren, White-bellied Sea-eagle Episode illustration: White-bellied Sea-eagle 🎧 Show notes and transcript - https://weekendbirder.com/podcast/ 🐦‍⬛ Instagram - https://instagram.com/weekend.birder 🦆 Faceb...

Woodlands can feel empty until you learn where to look. Ecologist Emi Arnold shares how to identify the birds living in Australia’s woodland habitats. Birds featured: Brown Treecreeper, Diamond Firetail, Glossy Black-Cockatoo Episode illustration: Diamond Firetail 🎧 Show notes and transcript - https://weekendbirder.com/podcast/ 🐦‍⬛ Instagram - https://instagram.com/weekend.birder 🦆 Facebook -...

Birdwatching can quietly change how you see yourself. Mia Grundy shares how everyday birding and photography has helped her through tough times and shaped her identity. Birds featured: Rainbow Bee-eater, Sacred Kingfisher Episode illustration: Rainbow Bee-eater 🎧 Show notes and transcript - https://weekendbirder.com/podcast/ 🐦‍⬛ Instagram - https://instagram.com/weekend.birder 🦆 Facebook - htt...

Little Penguins come ashore each night - but there’s a lot we don’t see. This encore episode with researcher Paula Wasiak explores penguin behaviour, conservation and life on Phillip Island. Birds featured: Cape Barren Goose, Little Penguin, Short-tailed Shearwater Episode illustration: Little Penguin 🎧 Show notes and transcript - https://weekendbirder.com/podcast/ 🐦‍⬛ Instagram - https://insta...

Sometimes the moment you miss is the one you remember most. Wildlife filmmaker Jeremy (jeremyfilmsthings) shares how filming birds has changed the way he sees and listens to the living world. Birds featured: Satin Bowerbird, Superb Lyrebird Episode illustration: Superb Lyrebird (male) 🎧 Show notes and transcript - https://weekendbirder.com/podcast/ 🐦‍⬛ Instagram - https://instagram.com/weekend....

Lyrebirds are famous for their mimicry and their role in the forest is even more amazing. Here's a special feature episode from Next-Gen Hills Naturalists podcast, hosted by Coen and Evie. Dr Alex Maisey shares how Superb Lyrebirds shape the ecosystem of Sherbrooke Forest, the sounds they can mimic and the science behind these remarkable birds. Subscribe to Next-Gen Hills Naturalists in your podca...

Every bird sighting is a mystery waiting to be solved. 13-year-old bird lover Coen Pearson shares his journey from noticing little brown birds at Wilsons Promontory to launching a podcast and conservation group in the Dandenong Ranges. Birds featured: Rufous Fantail, Satin Bowerbird, Superb Lyrebird Episode illustration: Rufous Fantail 🎧 Show notes and transcript - https://weekendbirder.com/podca...

The world changed when Mitch Kenny saw a Peregrine Falcon. The Penrith Panthers player shares how birdwatching has become a vital mindfulness practice and a way to find a sense of calm during a hectic NRL season. Birds featured: Peregrine Falcon Bird illustration: Peregrine Falcon 🎧 Show notes and transcript - https://weekendbirder.com/podcast/ 🐦‍⬛ Instagram - https://instagram.com/weekend.bird...

Most of us live closer to owls than we realise. Beth Mott introduces us to Australia’s owls and their unique behaviours, and what we can do to help them survive. Birds featured: Australian Boobook, Barking Owl, Christmas Island Boobook, Eastern Grass Owl, Eastern Barn Owl, Greater Sooty Owl, Lesser Sooty Owl, Masked Owl, Powerful Owl, Rufous Owl and Tawny Frogmouth (not an owl). Episode illus...

A Powerful Owl was there the night Ben Cullen lost everything. He shares his deep commitment to birds, and the work he now does with Trust for Nature to protect habitat on private land. Birds featured: Australasian Bittern, Powerful Owl Episode illustration: Powerful Owl 🎧 Show notes and transcript - https://weekendbirder.com/podcast/ 🐦‍⬛ Instagram - https://instagram.com/weekend.birder 🦆 Face...

Your questions kept coming! Dr Claire Greenwell returns to answer listener questions about leg colour, juvenile plumage, and how to photograph fast-moving seabirds with confidence. Episode illustration: Fairy Tern 🎧 Show notes and transcript - https://weekendbirder.com/podcast/ 🐦‍⬛ Instagram - https://instagram.com/weekend.birder 🦆 Facebook - https://facebook.com/weekend.birder 🔊 Recordings b...

Australia’s terns are fast, fascinating and full of subtle differences. Dr Claire Greenwell shares how to tell Fairy Terns from Little Terns, what makes seabirds so unique and why community action is critical for their conservation. Birds featured: Arctic Tern, Bridled Tern, Caspian Tern, Crested Tern, Fairy Tern, Gull-billed Tern, Lesser Crested Tern, Little Tern, Roseate Tern, Sooty Tern, Whiske...

Cairns is kingfisher heaven. Jonah Lafferty shares his favourite Far North Queensland hotspots to see birds like the Little Kingfisher and the Buff-breasted Paradise Kingfishers. Birds featured: Blue-faced Parrot-Finch, Buff-breasted Paradise Kingfisher, Double-eyed Fig Parrot, Little Kingfisher, Sacred Kingfisher, Silvereye, Yellow-billed Kingfisher Episode illustration: Little Kingfisher 🎧 Show...

One of Australia’s most familiar ducks has more going on than you think. Scientist Jason Graham dives into Pacific Black Duck behaviour, birdwatching insights and a major conservation story unfolding in Tasmania. Birds featured: Mallard, Little Wattlebird, Pacific Black Duck Episode illustration: Pacific Black Duck 🎧 Show notes and transcript - https://weekendbirder.com/podcast/ 🐦‍⬛ Instagram -...

You don't need more time, you need a smaller adventure. Artists Jane Rusden and Bridget Farmer share the story behind The 700 Birds Project - a long-term plan to travel in short trips and draw every bird they encounter. Birds featured: Gang-gang Cockatoo, Regent Parrot Episode illustration: Regent Parrot 🎧 Show notes and transcript - https://weekendbirder.com/podcast/ 🐦‍⬛ Instagram - https://in...

Birdsong is communication, not background noise. Dr Gráinne Cleary explains what birds are really doing when they sing and provides simple ways to tune your ear. Birds featured: Australian Magpie, Magpie-Lark, Noisy Miner, Superb Fairywren, Zebra Finch Episode illustration: Noisy Miner 🎧 Show notes and transcript - https://weekendbirder.com/podcast/ 🐦‍⬛ Instagram - https://instagram.com/weekend...

Birdwatching turns the world into a game where curiosity is the reward. Brandon Chapman chats about how birdwatching and game design come together in the Wingmate app. Birds featured: Comb-crested Jacana, African Jacana Episode illustration: Comb-crested Jacana 🎧 Show notes and transcript - https://weekendbirder.com/podcast/ 🐦‍⬛ Instagram - https://instagram.com/weekend.birder 🦆 Facebook - htt...

There is joy in watching someone else discover birds for the first time. Shane and Kayte Cheney share how birds became part of their love story, from noticing backyard species to travelling together. Birds featured: Australian Boobook, Green Catbird, Rufous Whistler Episode illustration: Rufous Whistler 🎧 Show notes and transcript - https://weekendbirder.com/podcast/ 🐦‍⬛ Instagram - https://ins...

Revisit one of Weekend Birder’s most loved episodes. Dr Mandy Ridley shares what research reveals about Australian Magpies, including their intelligence, communication behaviours and how we can help them to thrive. Birds featured: Arabian Babbler, Australian Magpie, Pied Babbler Episoide illustration: Australian Magpie 🎧 Show notes and transcript - https://weekendbirder.com/podcast/ 🐦‍⬛ Instagr...

Stories give us another way to love the birds we live alongside. Author and Public Libraries Victoria CEO Angela Savage walks us through her reading list for bird lovers of all ages. Birds featured: Arctic Tern, Barking Owl, Magpie, Rainbow Lorikeet, Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo, Spotted Pardalote, Swamp Harrier Episode illustration: Spotted Pardalote 🎧 Show notes and transcript - https://weekendbir...